George B on Sun 15, November 2009 @ 12:37

George B — 2009-11-15 12:37:43

This is a shocking, but sadly not surprising development in terms of the current state of play in UNISON. Her suspension from office for the rest of her working life may, however, signal a new turn in the witch-hunting which has beset the biggest public sector union in Britain.

In contrast to a number of the other victimisations of union activists in recent years, Caroline is an independent left activist, not a member of or associated with any particular political party or tendency. Having worked with Caroline over the past five years, I know her as a committed fighter for her own members in the NHS in Greater Manchester and a comrade of considerable integrity.

It's incumbent on all left activists in the union to mobilise maximum personal support for her and maximum opposition to the attacks on principled trade unionists that continue to be unleashed by sections of the union's own bureaucracy.

George B on Thu 19, November 2009 @ 07:24

George B — 2009-11-19 07:24:21

Another victimisation of a Union activist, though this time by the employer as management at Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust threatens to sack a long-standing convenor and try to appoint her replacement as union convenor!

Zena Dodgson, the elected Trade Union Facilitator (TUF) for staff at East Surrey, Crawley and Horsham hospitals, has been threatened with dismissal by Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust. Zena is also the elected Secretary of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Branch of Unison, but would be unable to continue in this role unless employed by the Trust.

She was elected to the TUF post by the trade unions in 2005 and has been re-elected every year since by her union colleagues.

The Trust has unilaterally decided to make Zena’s elected post redundant and replace it with an appointed Trade Union ‘Convenor’ role at the end of 2009. She has been issued with an 'at risk' notice. The management want to have the 'new' post appointed by a panel which will include them! The union side is opposing this and defending their right to elect their officers.

The Trust in the past had a management appointed staff side coordinator and it took a four year effort to end this arrangement.

Zena is obviously seen as an obstacle to the Trust's plans. Along with her Union colleagues at the Trust, she strongly opposed the ‘reconfiguration’ of Crawley hospital, which involved the downgrading of some services.

The decision to dismiss Zena is part of SASH management’s effort to turn it into a Foundation Trust, allowing it to be run much like a business in the health care ‘market’. In the Marketing and Communications Strategy Update presented by Andrew Hines, former Director of Corporate Services and Facilities, to the SASH board meeting on September 24, 2009, Hines wrote:

“If the Trust is to be effective in the future as a Foundation Trust, it needs to develop a mature approach to marketing.”

The staff have started a petition to defend their elected Trade Union Facilitator.

Zena’s union, Unison, has lodged an appeal against her dismissal, which is scheduled to be heard on Monday 23 November.

All supporters of the NHS should oppose this attack on Trade Union democracy.

The Chief Executive of Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust is Mrs Gail Wannell.

Send letters of protest to her at: Maple House, East Surrey Hospital, Canada Avenue, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5RH.

The phone number is 01737 231825, or email at gail.wannell@sash.nhs.uk

Permanent Revolution

George B on Sun 15, November 2009 @ 12:37

George B on Thu 19, November 2009 @ 07:24